Miscanthus plant named ‘Super Stripe’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Miscanthus  plant named ‘Super Stripe’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright to somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; dense and bushy growth habit; vigorous growth habit; green-colored leaves with yellow green-colored bands; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Miscanthus sinensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Super Stripe’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofMiscanthus plant, botanically known as Miscanthus sinensis, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Super Stripe’.

The new Miscanthus is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Avondale, Pa. The objective of the program is tocreate and develop new Miscanthus cultivars having good plant habit andunique leaf banding patterns.

The new Miscanthus originated from an open-pollination of the Miscanthussinensis cultivar Zebrinus, not patented, as the female, or seed, parentwith an unknown selection of Miscanthus sinensis as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Miscanthus was discovered and selected by the Inventoras a single plant within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in acontrolled environment in Avondale, Pa. in 1983.

Asexual reproduction of the new Miscanthus by divisions in Lancaster,Pa. since 2000, has shown that the unique features of this newMiscanthus are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Super Stripe has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Super Stripe’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Super Stripe’ as a new and distinct cultivarof Miscanthus:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, upright to somewhat outwardly spreading        plant habit; dense and bushy growth habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Green-colored leaves with yellow green-colored bands.    -   4. Good garden performance.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Lancaster, Pa., plants of thenew Miscanthus differed from plants of the female parent, the cultivarZebrinus, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Miscanthus were not upright and not as open        as plants of the cultivar Zebrinus.    -   2. Plants of the new Miscanthus were shorter than plants of the        cultivar Zebrinus.    -   3. Plants of the new Miscanthus had more yellow green-colored        bands on the leaves than plants of the cultivar Zebrinus.

Plants of the new Miscanthus can be compared to plants of the Miscanthuscultivar Strictus, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conductedin Lancaster, Pa., plants of the new Miscanthus differed from plants ofthe cultivar Strictus in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Miscanthus were not as upright as plants of        the cultivar Strictus.    -   2. Plants of the new Miscanthus were much shorter than plants of        the cultivar Strictus.    -   3. Plants of the new Miscanthus had more yellow green-colored        bands on the leaves than plants of the cultivar Strictus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Miscanthus. This photograph shows the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Miscanthus. The photograph comprises a sideperspective view of typical two-year old plants of ‘Super Stripe’ grownin an outdoor nursery in Lancaster, Pa.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The followingobservations and measurements describe plants grown in Pensacola, Fla.during the spring in an outdoor nursery and under conditions andpractices which approximate those generally used in commercialMiscanthus production. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures ranged from 21° C. to 35° C. and night temperatures rangedfrom 18° C. to 35° C. Measurements and numerical values for representaverages for typical six-month old plants grown in 10-cm containers.

-   Botanical classification: Miscanthus sinensis cultivar Super Stripe.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Miscanthus sinensis cultivar            Zebrinus, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Miscanthus            sinensis, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By divisions.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 70 days            at 35° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 77 days            at 18° C.        -   Root description.—Thick; white in color.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form/growth habit.—Relatively compact; upright and            somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; dense and bushy            growth habit. Vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 45 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 34 cm.        -   Culm (stem) description.—Shape: Cylindrical; enclosed by            leaf sheaths. Length: About 15 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Internode length: About 2.5 cm. Aspect: Upright. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A to            144C.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, two-ranked, simple; leaf base            sheathing the culm.        -   Length (including sheath).—About 38 cm.        -   Width.—About 1 cm.        -   Shape.—Linear.        -   Apex.—Tapering to a point.        -   Margin.—Entire with short bristles; bristles inconspicous.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright then outwardly arching with            development.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; lower            surface slightly glaucous.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.        -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper and lower surfaces: Green            ground color, close to 144A; yellow green bands, ranging            from close to 144B to 154D. Fully expanded foliage, upper            and lower surfaces: Green ground color, close to 146A to            147A; yellow green bands, ranging from close to 144B to            154D; midvein, close to 146A to 147A; secondary veins,            similar to lamina.        -   Ligule (located at point of contact with culm).—Length:            About 2 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture, inner surface:            Pubescent. Texture, outer surface: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            inner and outer surfaces: Close to 154D.-   Inflorescence description: Inflorescence and flower development has    not been observed on plants of the new Miscanthus.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Miscanthus have not been    shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Miscanthus.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Miscanthus have been observed    to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and    temperatures ranging from about −23° C. to about 41° C.

1. A new and distinct Miscanthus plant named ‘Super Stripe’ asillustrated and described.